Catholic Church

Bishops sue to overturn new Washington law requiring clergy to report child abuse

Washington’s leading Catholic bishops filed a lawsuit Thursday contending the new state law requiring religious leaders to report child abuse or neglect, even when it is disclosed in confession, is unconstitutional and should be invalidated.

Seattle-area Catholics reflect on the death — and life — of Pope Francis

As Catholics across the globe mourn the passing of Pope Francis, Seattle-area parishes are preparing to honor the pontificate's life.

Clergy members to become mandatory child abuse reporters in Washington state

Washington state is poised to require clergy members to report child abuse or neglect, even when it is disclosed in confession. The defining legislation now goes to Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson for signing.

Court decision shielding clergy sex abuse investigation records appealed by Washington state

The Washington Attorney General's office says Catholic Church records related to child sex abuse do not qualify for religious exemption and should be made public.

Seattle Archdiocese to address Catholic Church’s Indigenous boarding school legacy

The Archdiocese of Seattle, a regional governing body of the Catholic Church in Western Washington, says it’s working to comply with new nationwide priorities for engaging with Native American communities. It's part of an effort to address the negative effects of abusive Native American boarding schools on Indigenous communities.

Seattle Archdiocese faces new sex abuse lawsuits naming known offenders

Sex abuse survivors ask Vatican to investigate Seattle Archdiocese as Washington's lawsuit fails

On Friday, officials at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C., and in Rome received a letter from Seattle area survivors of child sexual abuse and their advocates. They’re asking top officials to investigate leadership at the Archdiocese of Seattle for allegedly failing to comply with the Washington State Attorney General’s investigation into the sexual abuse allegations against its clergy members.

Washington state sues Seattle Archdiocese over child sex abuse investigation records

Washington state is suing the Archdiocese of Seattle in an effort to compel the institution to turn over documents related to sexual abuse allegations against its clergy, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Thursday morning.

6 in 10 U.S. Catholics are in favor of abortion rights, Pew Research report finds

Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, the report says there's far greater diversity of opinion among laity in the U.S.

A cardinal is convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in Vatican trial

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court, was convicted in a complicated financial trial that aired the Vatican's dirty laundry.